Door latch means

ABSTRACT

A horizontal latch member is pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on one of two adjacent doors. The latch member has vertically open cam slot means extending lengthwise thereof intermediate of the ends thereof and has a hook-shaped nose portion at the other end thereof. A vertical pin member is carried by the one door and is engaged in the cam slot means, while a vertical post member is carried by the other door and is engageable by the nose portion. Rotation of the shaft and consequent movement of the latch member effect opening and closing of the latch means.

United States Patent [191 [451 Oct. 29, 1974 Velcover DOOR LATCH MEANS Matthew S. Velcover, Kenosha, Wis.

White Welding & Mfg., 1m, Kenosha, Wis.

Filed: Sept. 24, 1973 .Appl. No.2 400,006

Inventor:

Assignee:

3 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS H1924 McMillian ..292/ll3 4/1936 Sonabend. 292/218 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohnson, Dienner, Emrich, Verbeck & Wagner [5 7] ABSTRACT A horizontal latch member is pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on one of two adjacent doors. The latch member has vertically open cam slot means extending lengthwise thereof intermediate of the ends thereof and has a hook-shaped nose portion at the other end thereof. A vertical pin member is carried by the one door and is engaged in the cam slot means, while a vertical post member is carried by the other door and is engageable by the nose portion. Rotation of the shaft and consequent movement of the latch member efiect opening and closing of the latch means.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 3,737,183 6/1973 Pastra 292/7 i l g8 ,I 4 1 ll 65 1 DOOR LATCH MEANS BAKCGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to door latch means for large containers carrying heavy cargo such as truck trailers. 3

Truck trailer doors are usually latched or locked in their closed position by rotation of a primary door fastening shaft or bar carrying top and bottom crank arms for engagement with respective keepers mounted on the door frame.To aid in preventing relative movement between the doors in response to shifting of cargo durdependently of the primary door fastening shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of the present invention to providefor truck trailers and the like door latch means which draw the doors together and into alignment during latching, which resist outward bowing of the doors,

vwhich resist racking of the trailer, and which are operated by the primary door fastening shaft.

The latch means of the present invention is adapted to be associated with first andsecond vertical hinged doors having inner edges vadjacently located when the doors are in a closed position, and a vertical foor fastening operating shaft rotatably mounted on the outer face of the first door. The latch means comprises a horizontal elongated latch member presenting inner and outer ends and a front face. The latch member is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis at the inner end thereof to the operating shaft, has vertically open cam slot means extending lengthwise thereof intermediate the ends thereof, and has a hook-shaped nose portion at the outer end thereof. The latch means further comprises a vertical pin member carried by the first door and being engaged in the cam slot means, and a vertical post member carried by the second door and engageable by the nose portion. I

The cam slot means is caused by movement of the latch member in response to rotation of the operating shaft in one direction to ride over the pin member whereby the nose portion is successively swung toward the second door and then engaged with the post member for closing the latch means with the post member positioned at a predetermined location relative to the pin member. Also, the cam slot means is caused by movement of the latch member in response to rotation of the operating shaft in the other direction to ride over the pin member whereby the nose portion is successively disengaged from the post member and then swung away from the second door for opening the latch means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide latch means for truck trailers and the like of simple and economicalmanufacture which may be easily positioned and mounted on the trailer doors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a door frame and a pair of doors with which one embodiment of door latch means of the present invention has been incorporated;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the door latch means, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 2-2 in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the door latch means;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the door latch means taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shows two operating positions of the latch member thereof;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding generally to FIG. 4, and shows two additional operating positions of the latch member thereof;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a second em bodiment of latch means, and shows two operating positions of the latch member thereofyand FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding generally to FIG. 6, and shows three additional operating positions of the latch member thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is indicated generally by the reference 10 a conventional door frame which may, for example, be located at the rear end of the body of an enclosed transport vehicle. Disposed within the door frame 10 for closing the same are a pair of doors l2 and 14 which are swingably supported by hinges 16 on the door frame 10. The doors 12 and 14 are adapted to be locked in closed position by conventional primary door fastening means 18 which comprises a vertical operating shaft or bar 20 journaled for rotation in bracket members 22 secured to the outer face of the door 12. Crank arms 24 and 26 extending from or carried by the upper and lower ends of the shaft 20 are adapted to fasten the door 12 shut when the crank arms are rotated into engagement with respective keeper members 28 and 30 secured to the door frame 10. A horizontal handle 32 fixed to the shaft 20 accommodates rotation of the shaft 20 and the crank arms 24 and 26 for either engaging the arms with or disengaging them from the keeper members 28 and 30. Associated with the primary door fastening means 18 centrally thereof is one embodiment of door latch means of the present invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 34.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the latch means 34 comprises a horizontal elongated latch member 36 presenting an inner end 38, an outer end 40 and a front 7 face 42. The latch member 36 at its inner end is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis by a hinge pin 44 to a bracket 46 fixed to the shaft 20, and at its outer end 40 has a hook-shaped nose portion 48. The latch member 36 is fabricated with an outer vertical web 50 and inwardly directed upper and lower flanges 52. Formed in each flange S2 is a vertically open cam slot 54 which extends lengthwise of the latch member 36 intermediate of the ends thereof. The cam slots 54 are vertically aligned and define cam slot meansyEach cam slot 54 includes a main section 56 parallel to the lengthwise axis of the latch member 36 and an end bend section 58 directed angularly toward the front face 42 of the latch member 36. Extending through and engaged in the cam slots 54 is a vertical pin member 60 secured in the arms of a U-shaped bracket 62 fixed to the door 12. Also formed in each flange 52 adjacent the nose portion 48 is an arcuate cam edge 64. The cam edges 64 are vertically aligned and define cam edge means. Finally, a vertical post member 66, corresponding generally to the pin member 60, is secured in the arms of a U-shaped bracket 68 fixed to the door 14. As will be presently explained, the post member 66 is engageable by the cam edges 64 and the nose portion 48 of the latch member 36.

The door fastening means 18 and the door latch means 34 are shown in a locked or closed position in FIGS. 1-4. To open the door fastening means and the door latch means, the handle 32 is swung in a horizontal plane so that the shaft 20 is caused to rotate. As the shaft 20 is thus rotated, the crank arms 24 and 26 are disengaged from the keeper members 28 and 30. Simultaneously, in response to rotation of the shaft 20 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, the latch member 36 is moved from the solid-line position shown in FIG. 4, through the dash-line position of FIG. 4 and the solid-line position of FIG. 5, to the dash-line position of FIG. 5. During this movement of the latch member 36, the cam slots 54 are caused to ride over the pin member 60, and the cam edges 64 ride across the post member 66, whereby the nose portion 48 is successively disengaged from the post member 66 and then swung away fromthe door 14 for opening the latch means 34. Thereafter, the doors l2 and 14 may be swung outwardly of the plane of the door frame to an open position.

In closing the door frame 10, the doors 12 and 14 are swung to a position generally in the plane of the frame 10. Th handle 32 is then swung back toward the position shown in FIG. 1 whereupon the shaft is rotated for causing the crank arms 24 and 26 to be engaged in the keeper members 28 and 30. Simultaneously, in response to rotation of the shaft 20 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, the latch member 36 is moved from the dash-line position of FIG. 5, through the solid-line position of FIG. 5 and the dashline position of FIG. 4, to the solid-line position of FIG. 4. During this movement of the latch member 36, the cam slots 54 are caused to ride over the pin member 60, and the cam edges 64 ride across the post member 66, whereby the nose portion 48 is successively swung toward the door 14 and then engaged between the arms of the bracket 68 and with the post member 66 for closing the latch means 34. In the final increment of closing, the latch member 36 is drawn tight against the pin and post members 60 and 66 (thereby drawing the doors l2 and 14 together) with the post member 66 positioned at a predetermined location relative to the pin member 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 70 another embodiment of door latch means of the present invention which may be mounted and used in place of the above describeddoor latch means 34. The latch means 70 comprises a horizontal elongated latch member 72 presenting an inner end 74, an outer end 76 and a front face 78. The latch member 72 at its inner end 74 is piv otally mounted on a vertical axis by a hinge pin 80 to a bracket 82 fixed to the vertical door fastening operating shaft 20', and at its outer end 76 has a hook-shaped nose portion 84. The latch member 72 is fabricated with an outer vertical web 86 and inwardly directed upper and lower flanges 88. Formed in each flange 88 is a vertically open cam slot 90 which extends lengthwise of the latch member 72 intermediate of the ends thereof. The cam slots 90 are vertically aligned and define cam slot means. Each cam slot 90 includes a main section 92 directed angularly toward the front face 78 of the latch member 72, an intermediate bend section 94 directed angularly away from the front face 78, and an end bend section 96 directed angularly toward the front face 78. Extending through and engaged in the cam slots 90 is a vertical pin member 98 secured in the arms of a U-shaped bracket 100 fixed to the door I2. Also formed in each flange 88 adjacent the nose portion 84 is an arcuate cam edge 102. The cam edges 102 are vertically aligned and define cam edge means. Finally, a vertical post member 104, corresponding generally to the pin member 98, is secured in the arms of a U-shaped bracket 106 fixed to the door 14'. As will be presently explained, the post member 104 is engageable by the cam edges 102 and the nose portion 84 of the latch member 72.

The door latch means is shown in a locked or closed position in solid lines in FIG. 6. To open the door latch means, the door fastening shaft 20' is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7. In response to such rotation of the shaft 20', the latch member 72 is moved from the solid-line position shown in FIG. 6, through the dash-line position of FIG. 6 and the dash-line position of FIG. 7 and the solid-line position of FIG. 7, to the dot-dash-Iine position of FIG. 7. During this movement of the latch member 72, the cam slots are caused to ride over the pin member 98, and the cam edges 102 ride across the post member 104, whereby the nose portion 84 is successively disengaged from the post member 104 and then swung away from the door 14 for opening the latch means 70. Thereafter, the doors 12 and 14' may be swung outwardly of the plane of the associated door frame to an open position.

In closing the doors l2 and 14', they are first swung to a position generally in the plane of the associated door frame. The door fastening shaft 20' is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7. In response to such rotation of the shaft 20, the latch member 72 is moved from the dot-dash-line position of FIG. 7, through the solid-line position of FIG. 7 and the dashline position of FIG. 7 and the dash-line position of FIG. 6, to the solid-line position of FIG. 6. During this movement of the latch member 72, the cam slots 90 are caused to ride over the pin member 98, and the cam edges 102 ride across the post member 104, whereby the nose portion 84 is successively swung toward the door 14 and then engaged between the arms of the bracket 106 and with the post member 104 for closing the latch means 70. Also, if the door 14' should be slightly depressed or sunken within the door frame, the specific configuration of the cam slots 90 permits inward movement of the nose portion 84 to engage the displaced post member 104 and pull the door 14' outwardly into alignment with the door 12. In the final increment of closing, the latch member 72 is drawn tight against the pin and post members 98 and 104 (thereby drawing the doors l2 and 14 together), with the post member 104 positioned at a predetermined location relative to the pin member 98.

The latch members and brackets of the latch means of the present invention may be fabricated of steel stampings or cast malleable iron; hence, the latch means are simple and economical to manufacture. Ad-

, ditionally, the latch means are easily positioned and mounted on doors, and are associated with and operated automatically by the primary door fastening shaft. Most importantly, the latch means draw the doors together and into alignment during latching, resist outward bowing of the doors, and resist racking of the trailer. If desired, more than one latch means may be mounted along the edges of a given pair of doors.

While there has been shown and described preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. For use with first and second vertical hinged doors having inner edges adjacently located when the doors are in a closed position, and a vertical door fastening operating shaft rotatably mounted on the outer face of the first door, latch means comprising a horizontal elongated latch member presenting inner and outer ends and a front face, said latch member being pivotally mounted on a vertical axis at said inner end thereof to the operating shaft, said latch member having vertically open cam slot means extending lengthwise thereof intermediate of the ends thereof and having a hookshaped nose portion at said outer end thereof, a vertical pin member carried by the first door and being engaged in said cam slot means, a vertical post member carried by the second door and engageable by said nose portion, said cam slot means being caused by movement of said latch member in response to rotation of the operating shaft in one direction to ride over said pin member whereby said nose portion is successively swung toward the second door and then engaged with said post member for closing said latch means with said post member positioned at a predetermined location relative to said pin member, and said cam slot means being caused by movement of said latch member in response to rotation of the operating shaft in the other direction to ride over said pin member whereby said nose portion is successively disengaged from said post member and then swung away from the second door for opening said latch means.

2. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said cam slot means includes a'main section parallel to the length wise axis of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member.

3. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said cam slot means includes a main section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member, an intermediate bend section directed angularly away from said frontface of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member.

4. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said latch member includes arcuate cam edge means adjacent said nose portion which rides across said post member during opening and closing of said latch means.

5. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said latch member comprises an outer vertical web and inwardly directed upper and lower flanges, and said cam slot means is comprised of cam slots formed in said flanges.

6. The latch means of claim 5 wherein said latch member includes arcuate cam edges which are formed in said flanges adjacent said nose portion and which ride across said post member during opening and closing of said latch means.

7. The latch means of claim 6 wherein said cam slots each include a main section parallel to the lengthwise axis of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member,

8. The latch means of claim 6 wherein said cam slots each include a main section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member, an intermediate bend section directed angularly away from said front face of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member. 

1. For use with first and second vertical hinged doors having inner edges adjacently located when the doors are in a closed position, and a vertical door fastening operating shaft rotatably mounted on the outer face of the first door, latch means comprising a horizontal elongated latch member presenting inner and outer ends and a front face, said latch member being pivotally mounted on a vertical axis at said inner end thereof to the operating shaft, said latch member having vertically open cam slot means extending lengthwise thereof intermediate of the ends thereof and having a hook-shaped nose portion at said outer end thereof, a vertical pin member carried by the first door and being engaged in said cam slot means, a vertical post member carried by the second door and engageable by said nose portion, said cam slot means being caused by movement of said latch member in response to rotation of the operating shaft in one direction to ride over said pin member whereby said nose portion is successively swung toward the second door and then engaged with said post member for closing said latch means with said post member positioned at a predetermined location relative to said pin member, and said cam slot means being caused by movement of said latch member in response to rotation of the operating shaft in the other direction to ride over said pin member whereby said nose portion is successively disengaged from said post member and then swung away from the second door for opening said latch means.
 2. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said cam slot means includes a main section parallel to the length-wise axis of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member.
 3. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said cam slot means includes a main section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member, an intermediate bend section directed angularly away from said front face of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member.
 4. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said latch member includes arcuate cam edge means adjacent said nose portion which rides across said post member during opening and closing of said latch means.
 5. The latch means of claim 1 wherein said latch member comprises an outer vertical web and inwardly directed upper and lower flanges, and said cam slot means is comprised of cam slots formed in said flanges.
 6. The latch means of claim 5 wherein said latch member includes arcuate cam edges which are formed in said flanges adjacent said nose portion and which ride across said post member during opening and closing of said latch means.
 7. The latch means of claim 6 wherein said cam slots each include a main section parallel to the lengthwise axis of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member.
 8. The latch means of claim 6 wherein said cam slots each include a main section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member, an intermediate bend section directed angularly away from said front face of said latch member, and an end bend section directed angularly toward said front face of said latch member. 